Nov. 6, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame junior Britney Sanders (Ontario, Calif.) has been named the BIG EAST Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Month for October, the conference office announced Tuesday. Sanders was previously tabbed as the league’s top player for September.
Sanders, the No. 98 player in the fall ITA rankings, won her first four matches to reach the singles final at the USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships Oct. 18-23 in Urbana, Ill. Sanders defeated No. 9 Emina Bektas of Michigan 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the tournament’s quarterfinal round for her first career victory over a top-10 opponent. The Fighting Irish standout currently has a 7-1 record during the fall docket, including three wins over ranked competition.
Sanders and playing partner Julie Sabacinski (Plantation, Fla.) also reached the regional final of the doubles draw at the Atkins Tennis Center, downing No. 10 Linda Abu Mushrefova and Nida Hamilton (Northwestern) 8-5 to reach the championship match. The Notre Dame pair, ranked No. 36 in the fall ITA rankings, is 8-1 this season.
The Fighting Irish close the tournament portion of their schedule Nov. 9-11 at the Lakewood Ranch Invitational (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) and the Western Michigan Invitational (Kalamazoo, Mich.).
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